violetismycolor

real girls...

We saw a very funny and touching movie last night, called Lars and the Real Girl. This is now out on DVD, which is how we saw it, and it is definitely worth seeing.

We had gone out to dinner with dear friends, both of whose daughters work in the entertainment business in L.A. After a lovely dinner in Sellwood (capped with absolutely heavenly bread pudding), we wandered around Willamette Park, then called their daughters looking for recommended DVD rentals. John and I see quite a few movies, so it took a while to get past ones we had seen (Charlie Wilson's War, Atonement, etc).

We settled around the big screen TV and were delighted with this film. The acting is wonderful, with a cast led by Ryan Gosling, who was excellent as the emotionally-numb young man who is unable to connect in his relationships till he buys a lifesize doll (Bianca) and the whole town works with him to get him through his delusion. Sounds really odd but it was delightful.

mom's weekend at Oregon State?

***I call Ross on his cell phone this morning***

Me: Hi Ross. Any chance you have bought any tickets for events at Mom's Weekend?

Ross: Huh? Mom's weekend? When is that, again?

Me: Next weekend.

Ross: Then, uh...no.

Me: Well, I am looking at the website and see that they still have some tickets for the comedy show on Saturday night. I figured you forgot, but a mom CAN be hopeful, can't she?

Ross: Laughs nervously.

Me: I will try to see what else we can do...don't worry about it.

Ross: Thanks, Mom.

Ah, the life of the mother of a youngest child, who also happens to be a boy!

and back to the old pressures...

Weekend:  Fly back from Fiji.  Feeling the love.

Monday:  Car battery dead.  Can't get to my coffee group so that I can celebrate life.

Tuesday:  Dad's chemo day.  Doc reports fluid in his lungs.  Worries about his heart.  Schedules a whole day of tests for next week.

Wednesday:  Templating for new bathroom countertop put off because of problem with angle of the bathtub.  Panic ensues.  Loaner car at car dealership not available so must put off having car fixed.  Annoyance ensues.  Bedroom torn up and stuff piled everywhere.  Stress ensues.

Thursday:  ???

Fiji...

on my way back...

I am in Nadi, Fiji, having spent the past week at the gorgeous Matamanoa resort in a Mamanuca Islands of Fiji.  We have the luxury of being in a private and air-conditioned lounge at the airport, till boarding time for our plane.  Then it's ELEVEN AND A HALF HOURS to L.A., followed by 2 more to Portland after that. 

Will post lovely pics when I am home tomorrow. 

On a totally different note, check out the gorgeous Dutch travel site:  100DutchDelights.com 

Makes you want to travel to Holland, doesn't it?  And it's not just because my family is Dutch...

Japan, here she comes...

So Bonnie got into the JET program...teaching English in Japan to students anywhere from grade school to high school. She won't know WHERE in Japan till May, but she is excited...and scared. Oh my, another kid abroad. Mine just don't seem to want to stay home.

Ross will be going to St. Andrew's in Scotland for his Fall Term. That means that all 3 Calhoun kids will have spent at least a term there. What a wonderful thing for them to share!

dad update...

Dad did get to do his chemo yesterday. They also did ultrasound scans of both his legs to check for clots. Sure enough, they found some in his right leg. This is probably where the clots in his lungs sprung from. He's already on bloodthinners, so the treatment doesn't change, but it clarifies things a little.

I'm pretty stressed out right now and am looking forward to our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Fiji in a couple of weeks. I really could use a week on the beach, just doing nothing. We're going to a place called Matamanoa.

Can't wait, can't wait...